A study of residents in Beijing, China who became car owners indicates that they used alternative transportation modes less after buying cars.
A study published in the journal The BMJ tracked a group of adults in Beijing, China after they won a randomized lottery allowing them to purchase vehicle permits. "The study found that getting a car had a significant impact on people’s physical activity. They walked less. They cycled less. They used less public transit," reports Susan Perry.
Ninety-one percent of the 180 people in the survey sample who won permits ended up getting cars. This allowed researchers to compare their activity levels and travel behavior to individuals who did not own cars. In addition to fewer transit rides and less cycling, individuals over the age of 50 gained an average of 23 pounds.
"These results offer a message for all us. They suggest that the ways we — as individuals and as a society — choose to transport ourselves, particularly in our cities, can have a direct impact on our health," adds Perry.
FULL STORY: Owning a car is linked to less physical activity and weight gain
Car Manufacturers Worried After Trump Administration Gave More Than Expected
The auto industry lobby is meeting with Trump Administration officials to convince them to ease off the throttle.
The Trouble with Designing for Transit Preference
Suburban areas don't necessarily equate with car-dependence, according to some New Urbanist plans for far-out areas. But convincing residents to opt for transit can be a challenge.
USDOT: Low-Income Households Bear Highest Transportation Cost Burden
Transportation costs are the second-highest household expenditure behind housing for all income levels.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service